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MAHÂVÎRA A CULTURE-NOT A PERSON
-Sadhvi Pramukha Kanak Prabha
On the horizons of Indian philosophical skies, a name had emerged about 25 centuries ago, the name was Mahavir. The name did not pertain to any mythological realm and now it certainly is not so. During the long span of this two and half millenia, people in hundreds of thousands have made it their creed and faith. But following a creed and adopting it as faith, is one thing, and living it out is some thing quite different. It is not given to every body, it perhaps can not be so. Bhagwan Mahavir had not made it a name only, he lived it and kindling a flame of braverybecame Mahavir, in fact.
Bhagwan Mahavir started his life just like any other child on this sub-continent, in similar circumstances. The same kind of days and nights and sunshine and rains must have been there then, as are they today. He must have breathed through the same air, drank the same water, taken similar milk and food, as are the children of today living through placed in similar circumstances, clothing and housing must have been the same as today, for children born and brought up similarly. .
From the first cry of new born onwards to his lovely children pranks, from crawling on knees to 1st tottering steps, and then on to the walking trials under the loving care of elders. It must have been same journey through time, as it is today. There could hardly be any difference. The question that jumps to the mind is, then, where in lay the difference, whereby he became the Mahavir and his contemporaries were left way behind, staring at the markvel which was unfolding before their very eyes. That there was a difference some where is obvious even today, as it must have been then. The difference must have been very basic and subtle, which differentiates for example, a diamond from coal, though
